WO2019241823A1

WO2019241823A1 - An improved medical leg support arrangement to aid in the healing and strengthening of damaged, injured and/or replaced bone, muscle and/or tissue of the leg

Info

Publication number: WO2019241823A1
Application number: PCT/AU2019/000077
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matthew LIPTAK
Original assignee: Maxm Skate Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2018-06-22
Filing date: 2019-06-21
Publication date: 2019-12-26

Abstract

A medical leg support arrangement including front and rear sections having arched-up distal ends wherein a plurality of ground-engaging wheels supported on opposing sides of each of the front section and rear section including arched-up distal ends of the front section and rear section such that when in use weight-bearing support of the arrangement is maintained upon initial contact and departure of the arrangement from the ground so as to allow continuous support to the leg of the user during back and forth circumferential motion and wherein a motion sensor arrangement is adapted to sense the back and forth circumferential motion of the leg of the user between flexion and extension.

Description

AN IMPROVED MEDICAL LEG SUPPORT ARRANGEMENT TO AID IN THE HEALING AND STRENGTHENING OF DAMAGED, INJURED AND/OR REPLACED BONE, MUSCLE AND/OR TISSUE OF THE LEG

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [001] This invention relates to an arrangement that is adapted to assist in the healing, recovery and/or strengthening of a leg and/or knee joint which has been subjected to damage, injury and/or replacement of bone, muscle and/or tissue.

[002] More particularly this arrangement is an improvement over the medical leg support arrangement previously provided by the applicant wherein use of the medical leg support arrangement in this further invention of the applicant to be presented herewith is an enhancement by providing a mechanism/system whereby the patient will be able to visualize, track, record and utilise derivable information from the circular motion of the leg of the patient as the leg moves between extension and flexion and vice versa.

[003] Further, this arrangement is an improvement over the medical leg support arrangement previously provided by the applicant wherein the arrangement will be more conveniently manufactured, assembled, functional, user-operable, aesthetic, maintainable, versatile and with a greater longevity of durability of the product.

BACKGROUND ART DISCUSSION

[004] Previously the applicant provided a medical leg support arrangement that was disclosed and published under WO2014/066933 that could provide a unique recovery and/or rehabilitation device that will enhance a particular leg exercise that involves for the most part a back and forth bending motion of the lower leg that the user would perform whilst seated. [005] Advantageously, the arrangement provided for by the applicant previously under Patent No. WO2014/066933 included means and mechanisms wherein the back and forth motion of the user performed whilst seating can be achieved without bearing any weight on the damaged portion of the leg so that the patient or the person under rehabilitation is able to increase their range of motion in exercise building up to maximum movement of extension and flexion wherein importantly during ground engagement contact both at initial and departing points there is still no unnecessary burden or stress placed upon the damaged part of the leg. [006] While the user of the applicant’s previous arrangement was able to achieve the requisite healing and strengthening in the knee joint as promptly as possible when taking advantage of the disclosed invention in Patent Publication No. WO2014/066933, it has now been subsequently recognised that

improvements to the arrangement can be achieved. [007] There has more recently been a recognition by the applicant that, while the previous arrangement as introduced above could achieve the requisite healing and strengthening in the knee joint promptly compared to hitherto arrangements, it is also recognised that if further features could be added or used with the medical support arrangement this could enhance the user operability to improve patience rehabilitation even faster and more conveniently.

[008] It would be particularly advantageous to be able to assist the patient utilising the medical leg support to be able to conceptualize and visual in real time the circular range of motion of the patient’s leg during rehabilitation.

[009] Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an arrangement whereby use of the medical leg support arrangement can be enhanced for patient use by providing a mechanism whereby the patient will be able to in real time visualize, track, record and utilise information derivable from the generally circular motion of the leg as it moves between extension and flexion and vice versa so as to improve overall healing and strengthening more promptly and conveniently.

[010] In other embodiments of the invention it would also be useful to provide means and mechanisms for the patient to realise their applied force or strength being utilised during that circular motion of the leg between flexion and extension and/or vice versa, such that an understanding of the self-loading of the force, strength, torque and/or power of the patient’s leg movement can be controlled, regulated, developed and/or recorded as necessary to again improve the promptness of the requisite healing and strengthening required for the knee joint under rehabilitation.

[011] A further object of this invention to provide a medical leg support arrangement that will be an improvement over the applicant’s previous invention disclosed in Patent Publication No. WO2014/066933 so as to provide for more convenient manufacturing, assembly, functionality, user-operability, aesthetics, maintenance, versatility and a greater longevity of durability of the arrangement.

[012] Still even further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a complete reading of the following specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[013] A medical leg support arrangement adapted to increase a circular range of motion of a leg to aid in the healing and strengthening of damaged, injured and/or replaced bone, muscle and/or tissue of the leg, said arrangement including;

[014] a main housing assembly including a fastening means to retain a foot of a user upon an upper surface of the main housing assembly; [015] a front section of the main housing assembly further including a curved and/or arched-up distal end and wherein said a rear section of the main housing assembly further includes a curved and/or arched-up distal end; [016] a plurality of ground-engaging wheels supported on opposing sides of each of the front section and rear section, wherein the plurality of rotatable ground-engaging wheels are aligned substantially longitudinal along the main housing assembly including at or near the end of each of the respective curved and/or arched-up distal ends of the front section and rear section of the main housing assembly so as to provide for a generally curved circumferential alignment of the plurality of ground-engaging wheels on each of the opposing sides of the front section and rear section;

[017] such that when in use weight-bearing support of the arrangement is maintained upon initial contact and departure of the arrangement from the ground so as to allow continuous support to the leg of the user during back and forth circumferential motion; and

[018] a motion sensor arrangement adapted to sense said back and forth circumferential motion of the leg of the user between flexion and extension. [019] In preference the motion sensor arrangement includes a sensor fastenable to the leg of the patient undergoing healing and strengthening of the knee joint through the circular range of motion of the leg between flexion and/or extension.

[020] In preference the motion sensor arrangement includes at least a pair of sensors, wherein a first sensor is generally fastenable to the upper leg of the user and a second sensor is generally fastenable to the lower leg of the user undergoing requisite healing and strengthening of the knee joint of the leg.

[021] In preference the sensor fastenable to the leg of the patient undergoing requisite healing and strengthening in the knee joint includes further

functionality of a pedometer. [022] In preference the sensor can be worn on the wrist of the patient when not fastened to the leg to sense circular motion of the leg undergoing healing and strengthening.

[023] In preference the sensor includes smart technology providing a user display wherein preferred embodiments the user display is interfaceable with the user to provide functional information as to the user’s activity as well as recorded and historical information to movement, strength and/or duration of a physical activity undertaken by the user including action associated with instigated circular motion of the leg to which the medical leg support

arrangement has been placed thereon to assist.

[024] In preference the medical leg support arrangement further includes a dynamometer communicating with a dynamometer controller to measure the force, strength, power and/or loading applied by the user in the circular motion of the leg to which the medical leg support arrangement has been attached thereto.

[025] In preference the dynamometer arrangement is in communication with the motion sensor arrangement and the respective controllers, such that the patient is able to in real time be visually made aware by display, the angulation of the leg between flexion and full extension as well as a recognition of the self- loading or strength being applied by the user during the circular range of motion of the leg by the user.

[026] In a further form of the invention there is provided a medical leg support arrangement adapted to increase a circular range of motion of a leg to aid in the healing and strengthening of damaged, injured and/or replaced bone, muscle and/or tissue of the leg, said arrangement including;

[027] a main housing assembly; [028] said main housing assembly including a separable and independent front section and a rear section, wherein said front section and said rear section are adjustably mountable and moveable upon a central strut such that when the front section and the rear section of the main housing assembly have been adjusted and fixed upon the central strut, an upper surface on the front section and a corresponding upper surface on the rear section along with the central strut if required define a platform on which a foot of a user would be restable thereon;

[029] said main housing assembly including a fastening means to retain said foot upon the defined platform on which the foot of a user rests thereupon provided for by the upper surfaces of the front section and rear section of the main housing assembly;

[030] said front section of the main housing assembly further including a curved and/or arched-up distal end and wherein said rear section of the main housing assembly further includes a curved and/or arched-up distal end;

[031] a plurality of ground-engaging wheels supported on opposing sides of each of the front section and rear section, wherein the plurality of rotatable ground-engaging wheels are aligned substantially longitudinal along the main housing assembly including at or near the end of each of the respective curved and/or arched-up distal ends of the front section and rear section of the main housing assembly so as to provide for a generally curved circumferential alignment of the plurality of ground-engaging wheels on each of the opposing sides of the front section and rear section;

[032] such that when in use weight-bearing support of the arrangement is maintained upon initial contact and departure of the arrangement from the ground so as to allow continuous support to the leg of the user during back and forth circumferential motion. [033] Uniquely in this arrangement, two independent separable parts are adjustably moveable together relative to the other by being mounted and supportable upon a main central strut giving versatility to the product to accept a wide variety of foot sizes. [034] Advantageously once the adjusted front section and rear section of the main housing assembly are fixed upon the central supporting strut the upper surfaces of these sections, then defines the platform on which the foot can rest thereupon.

[035] The front section and rear section of the main housing assembly also act as the rails from which the ground-engaging wheels extend therefrom and which the wheels will be configured one with respect to the other along generally a circumferential or curved linage on opposing sides of the Front and rear sections.

[036] In preference each of the front section and rear section includes a plurality of channels which provide slots wherein each slot is adapted to receive a shaft mountable and supportable within the front section or rear section of the main housing assembly wherein the ground-engaging wheels are fixable and rotatable there upon said shaft when mounted in said slots.

[037] In preference each slot runs across the breadth of the front section or rear section so that a pair of ground-engaging wheels can be positioned on either side of the respective front section or rear section of the main housing assembly upon a single shaft.

[038] In preference each slot is configured towards or at the bottom edge, base or under-side of each of the front section or rear section of the main housing assembly.

[039] In preference each of the front section and the rear section at the distal end opposite the curved or arched-up distal end includes an upper section which laterally extends out from both sides of the front section and the rear section so as to be configurable above ground-engaging wheels supported within the front section or rear section of the main housing assembly.

[040] Advantageously this unique lateral extension of part of the front section and rear section over and above those central ground-engaging wheels along the substantially circumferential configured line of the plurality of such ground- engaging wheels means that the user’s foot is resting just above the wheels rather than having the wheels extending laterally out from the side of the device and not being under the user’s foot directly. Hence the feature of the lateral extensions over the central ground engaging wheels provides greater balance and weight support as the user completes the circumferential range of motion to the required degree of flexion and/or extension in the recovery process.

[041] In preference at the apex or tip of the curved and/or arched-up end of the respective front section and rear section of the main housing assembly, includes a hook member wherein a cord is adaptable to be engageable with the hook wherein the use of the cord with the medical leg support arrangement of this invention at either the front section and/or back section of the main housing assembly can assist in the completion of exercises available to the user during the recovery process. [042] In preference each of the front section and rear section of the main housing assembly are separate single moulds.

[043] Advantageously the single moulded independent front section and rear section of the main housing assembly provides for a durable, conveniently manufactured and simple structural arrangement in which to bring two independent part adjustably together through the use of the central strut.

[044] Advantageously the use of a single mould also allows for the convenient configuration thereinto of the hook which engages the resilient cord at the apex end or tip of the distal ends of the curved and/or arched-up locations on the respective front section and rear section of the main housing assembly.

[045] In preference the fastening means includes a pair opposing brackets on each side of the front section wherein an adjustable strip or resilient tape and/or lace is engageable thereto said pair of opposing brackets.

[046] Once again the assembly is simplified in that even the means in which to fasten the foot upon the platform of the main housing assembly can be achieved by moulding into the front section of the housing assembly little curved brackets on each side in which the standard adjustable tape and/or strap can be anchored and positioned there across in order to secure the foot upon the platform when the user engages the medical leg support arrangement.

[047] In preference the rear section includes an upstanding abutment member contoured to generally accept the heel of the shoe and/or foot of the user when the user’s foot is resting upon the platform of the medical leg support

arrangement.

[048] In order now to describe the invention in greater detail a series of preferred embodiments will be described with the assistance of the following illustrations and accompany text.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [049] Figure 1 is a generally an underside perspective view looking from the rear of the medical leg support arrangement in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[050] Figure 2 is a side and front perspective view of the arrangement shown in Figure 1. [051] Figure 3 is a generally a side and front perspective view of the

arrangement shown in Figure 1 with an expanded configuration. [052] Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the motion sensor arrangement used with the medical leg support arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 3 in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[053] Figure 5 is a representative example of a display visually viewable by the user to which the motion sensor arrangement is being used in conjunction with the medical leg support arrangement in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[054] Figures 6 illustrates a schematic representation showing a user wearing the medical leg support arrangement as well as the motion sensor arrangement as well as the use of a user-engageable cord.

[055] Figures 7a and 7b are a series of schematic representations illustrating user flexion motion.

[056] Figures 8a and 8b are a series of schematic representations illustrating user extension motion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[057] Referring to the drawings now in greater detail and at first instance Figure 1 through to Figure 3 where the general arrangement of the medical leg support arrangement is shown as (10). The medical leg support arrangement (10) could more generally also be described as a skate for simplicity of terminology, so the use of the word skate (10) in this description has been used interchangeably with medical leg support arrangement (10).

[058] The main housing assembly includes the independent front section (12) and rear section (14) which are adjustably mountable upon the central strut (15) relative to each other. [059] The front section (12) includes an upper surface (17) and the rear section

(14) includes the upper surface (16) which define a platform type structure wherein as best seen in Figure 3 a foot (not shown) of a user (not shown) can rest upon the surfaces (17) and (16).

[060] In figure 3 the defined platform includes the upper surface (17) of the front section (12) and the upper surface (16) of the rear section (14) in combination with the strut (15). As is to be expected the strut (15) need not always be apart of the defined platform, as some feet sizes will not require the front section (12) and rear section (14) to be separated all that much and for the most part in some instances the edges of the front section (12) and rear section (14) could be touching one another when fastened to the central strut (15). [061] Importantly the arrangement (10) includes the plurality of rotatable ground-engaging wheels (7) which are symmetrically positioned towards the lower edge (20) of the front section (12) and the lower edge (22) of the rear section (14).

[062] Each channel (21 ) as best seen in Figure 1 , allow the shafts (19) to which the rotatably ground-engaging wheels (7) can be fixed and mounted thereto the shafts (19) when the shafts (19) are mounted within the respective channels (21 ) of the front section (12) and rear section (14).

[063] The top surface (17) of the front section (12) and the top surface (16) of the rear section (14) also includes respective lateral extensions (26a), (26b) and (28a), (28b).

[064] These lateral extensions (26a), (26b) and (28a), (28b) provide a better definition for the established platform created by the upper surfaces (17) and (16) of the respective front section (12) and the rear section (14) in conjunction with the central strut (15) if the central strut (15) is required. [065] As the lateral extensions (26a), (26b) and (28a), (28b) extend out over the underlying ground-engaging wheels (7), this allows the foot of the user to be positioned over the actual rotatable ground-engaging wheels (7) for greater balance and stability as the back and forth circumferential range of motion required for the degree of flexion and/or extension takes place during contact and departure of the skate (10) from the ground.

[066] As best seen in Figure 2, the distal end (30) of the front section (12) and the distal end (32) of the rear section (14) both have a curved and/or arched-up configuration.

[067] In the preferred embodiment towards the tip or apex of each of the respective curved and/or arched-up sections (30) and (32) of the front section (12) and rear section (14), includes a hook (58) and (60) through which a cord type arrangement (not shown) but to be discussed shortly hereafter can secured.

[068] Each of the front section (12) and rear section (14) is made from independent separate moulds wherein the front section (12) also includes a pair of bracket mounts (40a), (40b) to which an adjustable strap (42) is fixable thereto in order to assist in then fastening the foot of the user to the medical support arrangement (10).

[069] The rear section (14) also includes an upstanding abutment (44) which is contoured so as to accept the heel shaped configuration of the foot of the user. The abutment (44) also provides support for a further adjustable strap (43) fixable thereto in order to assist in then fastening the foot of the user to the medical support arrangement (10).

[070] Advantageously both the fastening mechanism including the pair of opposing brackets (40a), (40b) and the upstanding abutment member (44) can all be included as part of the overall moulded configuration for the respective front section (12) and rear section (14).

[071] Figure 4 shows a closeup of the leg (51 ) of the user or patient (50) illustrated in Figures 6, 7a, 7b, 8a and 8b. [072] The leg (51 ) at the upper end (52) includes a first motion sensor (54) and at the lower section (53) of the leg (51 ) a second sensor (55).

[073] As shown in Figure 6 the leg (51 ) has the medical leg support

arrangement referred to generally for the simplicity of terminology as a‘skate’ referenced as (57).

[074] The motion sensor arrangement which includes the first sensor (54) and the second sensor (55) will allow the user (50) to understand in real time and to be able to visualize circular range of motion of the leg as exercises are completed so as to more promptly heal and strengthen the knee joint shown generally as (56) in Figure 4.

[075] The motion sensor arrangement including sensors (54) and (55) would work with a computer, smart device and/or a micro-controller so as to in real time record and display a representation like the representative example shown in Figure 5 upon a screen of a smartphone, tablet, computer, wristwatch and the like, for the user’s review and/or also the review of those monitoring the user during recovery.

[076] Icon (61) is generally representative of the user (50) wherein the icon referenced by way of the infilled circle icon mark (63) in Figure 5 will move back and forth, shown by way of arrow (64), along the semi circular graphical bar (62) so as to detail to the user (50) the actual angle of flexion (67) or extension (68) relative to the respective extension target angle (65) or the flexion target angle referenced by (66) in Figure 5.

[077] Not only can information be utilised in real-time, the information can also be recorded and used for historical review, for example by the user and/or medical, trainers or carers assisting the user.

[078] Although not visually illustrated in the representative example shown in Figure 5, further functionality can be shown, recorded and utilised depending on the functionality working in communication with the controller generating such a display such as communication with a dynamometer so that not only could the user (50) visually locate upon the display their movement through the circular range of motion between flexion and extension but also the amount of strength, power and/or self-loading being applied to that circular motion of the leg being achieved through a series of exercises to heal and strengthen the knee joint (56).

[079] It is expected that in preferred embodiments the use of the dynamometer will work in conjunction with the cord arrangement (70) shown in Figures 6, 7a, 7b and 8a and 8b.

[080] In Figures 7a and 7b the cord arrangement (70) is being used in combination with the skate (57) to assist the circular range of motion of the leg (51 ) towards flexion wherein Figures 8a and 8b utilise the cord arrangement (70) with the skate (57) to improve the circular range of motion towards extension.

[081] Although not shown in the illustrations, the sensors (54) and (55) like the ones shown in Figure 4, could also be configurable into a wristwatch or other hand-held type arrangement when not in use and include further functionality such as a pedometer and the like, all of which can be recorded and form part of information associated with any exercise or physical activity the user is completing as part of the overall procedure of healing and strengthening of the knee joint as promptly as possible.

Claims

1. A medical leg support arrangement adapted to increase a circular range of motion of a leg to aid in the healing and strengthening of damaged, injured and/or replaced bone, muscle and/or tissue of the leg, said arrangement including; a main housing assembly including a fastening means to retain a foot of a user upon an upper surface of the main housing assembly; a front section of the main housing assembly further including a curved and/or arched-up distal end and wherein said a rear section of the main housing assembly further includes a curved and/or arched-up distal end; a plurality of ground-engaging wheels supported on opposing sides of each of the front section and rear section, wherein the plurality of rotatable ground- engaging wheels are aligned substantially longitudinal along the main housing assembly including at or near the end of each of the respective curved and/or arched-up distal ends of the front section and rear section of the main housing assembly so as to provide for a generally curved circumferential alignment of the plurality of ground-engaging wheels on each of the opposing sides of the front section and rear section; such that when in use weight-bearing support of the arrangement is maintained upon initial contact and departure of the arrangement from the ground so as to allow continuous support to the leg of the user during back and forth

circumferential motion; and a motion sensor arrangement adapted to sense said back and forth

circumferential motion of the leg of the user between flexion and extension.

2. The medical leg support arrangement of claim 1 wherein a controller working with said motion sensor arrangement is adapted to sense said back and forth circumferential motion of the leg of the user between flexion and extension to which the medical leg support arrangement has been positioned thereon, wherein the controller and the motion sensor arrangement are in communication such that said back and forth circumferential motion of the leg of the user between flexion and extension can be monitored, recorded, displayed and/or used as a visual aid for the user undergoing the requisite healing and strengthening.

3. The medical leg support arrangement of claim 2 wherein the motion sensor arrangement includes a sensor fastenable to the leg of the user to which the medical leg support arrangement has been positioned thereon.

4. The medical leg support arrangement of claim 3 wherein the motion sensor arrangement includes at least a pair of sensors, wherein a first sensor is generally fastenable to the upper leg of the user to which the medical leg support arrangement has been positioned thereon and a second sensor is generally fastenable to the lower leg of the user to which the medical leg support arrangement has been positioned thereon.

5. The medical leg support arrangement of claim 3 wherein the sensor fastenable to the leg of the user to which the medical leg support arrangement has been positioned thereon further includes functionality of a pedometer.

6. The medical leg support arrangement of claim 3 or 5 wherein the sensor can be worn on a wrist of the user when not fastened to the leg of the user to which the medical leg support arrangement has been positioned thereon.

7. The medical leg support arrangement of claim 6 wherein the sensor includes smart technology providing a display, wherein said display is

interfaceable with the user to provide information as to the user activity, wherein said information is recordable.

8. The medical leg support arrangement of claim 7 wherein the medical leg support arrangement further includes a dynamometer communicating with a dynamometer controller to measure force, strength, power and/or loading applied by the leg of the user to which the medical leg support arrangement has been positioned thereon.

9. The medical leg support arrangement of claim 8 wherein the

dynamometer arrangement is in communication with the motion sensor arrangement such that the user is able to in real time be visually made aware upon said display, the angulation of the leg of the user to which the medical leg support arrangement has been positioned thereon between flexion and full extension as well as a recognition of the self-loading or strength being applied by the user during back and forth circumferential motion of the leg of the user between flexion and extension.

10. A medical leg support arrangement of anyone of claims 1 to 9 wherein the main housing assembly includes a separable and independent front section and a rear section, wherein said separable and independent front section and said rear section are adjustably mountable and moveable upon a central strut such that when the separable and independent front section and the rear section of the main housing assembly have been adjusted and fixed upon the central strut, an upper surface on the front section and a corresponding upper surface on the rear section define a platform on which a foot of a user would be restable thereon and a fastening arrangement to retain said foot upon the defined platform.

11. The medical leg support arrangement of claim 10 wherein each of the front section and rear section includes a plurality of channels that provide corresponding slots.

12. The medical leg support arrangement of claim 11 wherein each slot is adapted to receive a shaft mountable and supportable within the front section or rear section of the main housing assembly wherein the ground-engaging wheels are fixable and rotatable there upon said shaft when mounted.

13. The medical leg support arrangement of claim 12 wherein each slot runs across the breadth of the front section or rear section so that a pair of ground- engaging wheels can be positioned on either side of the respective front section or rear section of the main housing assembly upon a single shaft.

14. The medical leg support arrangement of claim 13 wherein each slot is configured towards or at the bottom edge, base or under-side of each of the front section or rear section of the main housing assembly.

15. The medical leg support arrangement of claim 10 wherein at an apex or tip of the curved and/or arched-up end of the respective front section and rear section of the main housing assembly, includes a hook member wherein a cord is adaptable to be engageable with the hook.

16. The medical leg support arrangement of claim 10 wherein each of the front section and rear section of the main housing assembly are separate single moulds.

17. The medical leg support arrangement of claim 10 wherein the fastening arrangement includes a pair opposing brackets on each side of the front section wherein an adjustable strip or resilient tape and/or lace is engageable thereto said pair of opposing brackets.